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Driver Jailed After Fatal Hit-and-Run on Expressway

 


A driver, Pua Yui Loon, was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison and banned from driving for ten years after causing a fatal accident on an expressway. The 28-year-old Malaysian had been speeding at least 141 km/h when he sideswiped a motorcycle, causing the 22-year-old motorcyclist, Joshua Chiam Chee Wai, to fall and die at the scene. Pua fled to Johor Bahru, where he lived, but was arrested the next day when he returned to Singapore.

The incident occurred on February 6, 2024, along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE). Pua, who worked as a cashier in a lounge bar in Singapore, was driving home after a night shift and had consumed alcohol earlier. Despite seeing the motorcycle ahead, Pua continued speeding and struck the motorcycle while trying to pass it on the rightmost lane. The accident was captured by in-car cameras from vehicles behind.

After the collision, Pua did not stop to help the victims. Mr. Chiam’s girlfriend, who was riding pillion, sustained injuries but survived. Pua drove back to Johor Bahru, then re-entered Singapore the next day and was arrested at the immigration checkpoint.

Court findings revealed that Pua's speed was far above the 90 km/h limit, and his dangerous driving resulted in severe consequences. The Deputy Public Prosecutor, Natalie Chu, called for four to five years of imprisonment, emphasizing the need for deterrence amid a rise in fatal, speeding-related accidents.

Pua’s lawyer, Bryan Lim, argued that his client was deeply remorseful and had not exhibited reckless driving patterns like changing lanes frequently. However, the judge emphasized the high speed and the fact that Pua had consumed alcohol before driving.

The court determined that Pua's actions were deliberate and dangerous, and his fleeing the scene was an aggravating factor. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving while speeding, and five other related charges were considered during sentencing.

Pua's offence carries a jail term of two to eight years and a mandatory driving ban of at least ten years.

Source: CNA



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